Kristen J. Davis

Category Archives: sleep

All of us know what being tired is like. Kids, work, school, church and other activities can completely drain us. Being tired is one thing, but weary is different and much worse.

When I was first injured not much changed, I continued to do me and at full speed. As more was revealed, treatments, medication & surgeries my role in life began to change. My identity was wrapped up in doing, not being who God created and called me to be. After surgeries and long recovery times and all of the craziness, I became more and more depleted.

If you are like me, you completely shut down. It’s in these moments I lock myself away, try to sleep and provide me with something that it’s not able to provide.Physically, spiritually and mentally my body literally began to shut down. My body began to fight against itself, which caused me to have a 3 week hospital stay. I felt if I couldn’t serve, do and go then what’s the point. I found myself in an identity crisis.

While I was in the hospital God did something amazing, He sent people. People I hadn’t seen in years and those I didn’t even know came to see me or were praying for me. God sent and army of prayer warriors that did battle for me when I couldn’t. By this time The Lord had shown me that I wouldn’t let others stand with me, or help me. I thought it would make me look like a wimp. This could not be further from the truth, there is great strength resting in Him and letting others do battle on the front lines for you.

I began to learn, rest does not come in sleeping more. It is not in being alone. Rest is not passive but active and full of faith. It requires us to sit before the Lord and lay our desires before Him.

We all at some point get to the place of being weary. The question becomes what do we do once we find ourselves there. Here are a few things I find to be helpful:

Share with a friend.Walk through it with them. It’s amazing how haring some simple thoughts or weariness can unclog your heart.

Dump it. Look over your schedule, cut whatever you can to set you free. Even the smallest changes can be a breath of fresh air when the pressure has raised to the point of discomfort.

Sit before the Lord. In the middle of my weariness, I’m often tempted to distract myself with “busy” work. I can turn my brain off and check out as opposed to being refreshed by Him. The problem is, the weariness always returns. However, grabbing my Bible, a cup of coffee and wrap up in a blanket in my cozy chair is just what the doctor ordered. Even as I sit I can sense my energy returning. Spending time sharing with the Lord, listening and reading His word always fills my heart up. Most of all I need to grab some scripture that I can hold onto and bury in my heart.

Next time you find yourself weary, remember you do not have to walk through it alone.

Matthew 11:28New International Version (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Galatians 6:9New International Version (NIV) 9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”